The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-28
RED HOT
Were the Shot From Gus Cooks
Battery Last Night.
Solid Facts, Vigorous Invectlve,
Rafting Humor and
Satanic Satire.
RED HOT
From Tuesdays Daily.l

IndI mas Deen gathered lnere III many
long day-or night, either, for that mat
ter. The occasion was to hear Hon. Gus
tave Cook, of Houston, discuss the for
nibst side of the prohibition question.
Judge Cook is simply incompatible on
the stump, When the good Lord
made creation he only baked
Gus Cook. A gallant soldier, who bears
upon his person the scars of war; his every
day life is marked with the simplicity of a
child. As Judge, he stands in the fore
front of iurists; as an orator, few can ex-
eel him; as a literateur, he is courted; as
a stump speaker, he is lnimitable; as
convivialist, he is superb, and yet he never
drinks drop.
This was the man introduced to the
great crowd of last night, a large proper
ton of who m were ladies, and Alex. W.
Terrell never presented man to an audi
ence in all his life who made a stronger
impression than did Judge Gustave Cook.
Judge Terrell, in introducing the speaker,
said that, when eight years ago in the old
capitol, and within a stones throw of
where he then Stood a petition from
100000 men and women of Texas came up
asking for the submission of an amend
ment like this, and he had opposed it, but
two men came up to congratulate him.
One of these was holy man
of God, minister of His sacred
teachings, who then, as now,
devoted his time to the incubation of
the lessons of the meek and lowly Jesus
rather than to running over the country
diving into politics; the other he had
the honor to crescent to the audience, and
it was the irst time he had felt inclined,
during this campaign, to present any
body, but this he did, ard it gave him
} great pleasure to introduce child of
, Texas, Judge Gusteve Cook.
Judge Cook began by saying that he
was present by appointment of the execu-
, tive committee of the convention held at
, Dallas for the purpose of organizing an
opposition to the proposed prohibition
, amendment. He apologized for lack of
, strength and vigor with which to suitably
present the question. This was unneces-
sary, however, as all who heard him can
testify. If he was feeble last night
he must have been a whale at the outset of
; the campaign. he viewed the situation
. as startling spectacle. 1t was an limo
( walton upon the organic law, well calcu-
, lated to cause thinking men to stop and
3 consider. 1t is enough to thrill and
} amaze the mass of the people. In many
. portions of the state the question had
never before been even mooted, and
, only in few counties had local option
been discussed. But, by some means,
3 known only to those promoting it, legisla-
, ton had been induced to present this
question to the people of the state. 1t
} came suddenly and startlingly. It came
D like the sound of many waters But a
=, sober second thought has organized this
/ opposition to the proposition.
Z The speaker then asked what IS this
5 amendment? Prohibition speakers in
j woke rule of constructions to tell you
8 what it means. No explanation is re-
t quired for the terms "prohibiting the sale
: and exchange" but when the 'word manu-
n facture" is reached the construction is put
s that it is all right to manufacture. Oh
k yes But why not put this
same construction upon the sale or ex-
8 change? One is Just as permissible as the
: other. The truth is, in their haste they
s did not discover the fatal defect in the
3 proposition submitted, and now, by al
!. manner of deceits and hypocrisy, they
o endeavor to fill up the weak spot. 1t Is mo-
:. true that, if this amendment is adopted
d any one will have the right to manufacture
It wine. What right have these people tt
n say what legislature will do, or how thu
h courts will construe this question? Judg'
g Cook denied that there was any necessit.
h for this amendment, and asserted tina
10 there was less drunkenness to-day thar
s there was dozen or twenty years ago,ant
IS that it is on the decrease all the while
1t has been said that the people are squan
dering their substance; that $40,00000t
20 out of the state annually for intoxicat
" ing liquors. He said he would not g
" into statistics, for statistics were too dr..
l. to be authority on the matter of drink
IS but he said, if the statement were true
10 every voter in Texas spent $120 veal
IN for drinks. Moreover, the sum nance
-E re represented 500 for every man, woman
= and child in the state, and this is prac
le teal illustration of the extravaganza o
st the prohibition argument. One-third o
,e the voters of Texas, he said, never tOucf
d lionor. and one-half will not spend $1.5I
is per capita per year for liquor. If tn
ar charge made is true, the wonder is hov
y the people can stay sober long enough tt
ID make S40,O00,000 to spend for whisky
I'd They talk about $4,000 men going annual.
Y, into drunkards' graves. How man
AZ drunkards does Austin furnish to thi
le enormous army?
70 He next took up the prohibitionist SON.
is that the laboring man must be saved
voice in the audience called out, NOV
= you are coming to it," These mission
aries for the salvation of the laboring ma
are not needed. Who does the great wor
of the country? who builds your railroad
your capitol? Here a voice cried on
''The corporations" but the speaker di
not heed the Interruption. Who pile
brick upon brick to rear your statel
| edifces? You put your wife and your Ii
tie ones upon the train to send thel
upon journey-into whose hands do yo
trust these precious ones? The laborin
mans! AS the judge brought this OF
there was a yell of applause, and Il
chap who had yelled, "The corporations
slipped out of the crowd and was seen L
more. You can trust the laboriDg man wit
your work; you can trust him viii
your property; you can trust him wit
your wife and little ones; but, accordin
to these missionaries, he mustn't
= trusted with his fifteen dollars week.
When Judge Cook brought this el
preston out, with the force an
effectiveness of which he alone
capable, there was yell of applause, an
the ladies applauded by the waving